Chapter 144: Entering the Palace for the Birthday Celebration

The Grand Empress Dowager was first surprised by Puji Zhenren’s sudden request for an audience, but then she felt that his arrival was very timely.

The Grand Empress Dowager closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and looked at Emperor Hongzhi. She said, “Originally, women should not interfere with the court’s personnel appointments. But this matter concerns the Crown Prince, and I am too worried to think clearly. Whether Fang Jifan is good or bad is not for me to say. But whether this person spreads evil rumors to confuse people, Puji Zhenren himself can report to the Emperor. His arrival is perfect. Summon him.”

Emperor Hongzhi actually felt quite unhappy. He did not like Taoists and did not like Perfected Masters. To be honest, if Puji Zhenren’s moral character was not somewhat decent, Emperor Hongzhi would have definitely rejected him and refused to let him enter the palace.

But the Grand Empress Dowager firmly believed in this. To use a Taoist’s words to determine the fate of a court official…

Well, Fang Jifan did not seem qualified to be called a court official. But… he was still an appointed official after all. To determine whether an appointed court official spreads evil rumors to confuse people in this way was indeed a bit childish.

However, Emperor Hongzhi had always been purely filial. He had no choice but to accept the Grand Empress Dowager’s decision.

Not long after, Puji Zhenren arrived.

Today, he wore the Taoist robe bestowed by the imperial court. He entered the hall and immediately knelt down to perform a grand bow. He said, “This humble Taoist pays respects to the Grand Empress Dowager, to His Majesty, to Empress Your Highness, to the Crown Prince…”

During the court’s sacrificial ceremonies to Heaven, Puji Zhenren served as the deputy officiant. He had seen the true faces of the nobles in the palace, so he recognized everyone in the hall.

When the Grand Empress Dowager saw him, the heaviness on her face from earlier was gone. She immediately became kind and pleasant. She quickly said, “Perfected Master, there is no need for such ceremony.”

Emperor Hongzhi kept a straight face and did not pay any attention.

The Grand Empress Dowager then said lightly, “Yesterday, I sent a scripture commentary to the Perfected Master. The person who wrote this commentary is very young but extremely audacious. Although I read scriptures, my knowledge of them is limited. Therefore, I very much want to know the Perfected Master’s opinion.”

Zhu Houzhao could only sigh inwardly. At this point, he could not be bothered to act pitiful. Thinking about Fang Jifan being sent away from the capital, he felt upset.

In the end, it was he who had harmed him.

But Puji Zhenren expressed surprise. He said, “This scripture commentary was actually written by a young person?”

Puji Zhenren’s heart was stirred with great waves. Judging from the commentary, the person who wrote it was very experienced and profound in their understanding of the Daodejing.

Before coming here, Puji Zhenren thought that the commentary must have been written by some reclusive master. This person should at least have graying hair and be at least sixty years old. How could he have imagined it was a young person?

At this moment, Puji Zhenren felt an impulse to find a block of tofu and crash into it to die. He had studied the scriptures for decades, yet he was not even as good as a young man.

The Grand Empress Dowager snorted coldly. She sincerely believed in Taoist classics from the bottom of her heart, so she extremely disliked evil heretics who distorted the meaning of the scriptures.

Therefore, she said, “Not just a young person, but clearly a still-wet-behind-the-ears youth… Perfected Master, if there are any taboos in this commentary, do not hide them. Report them all.”

Still-wet-behind-the-ears… youth…

Puji Zhenren’s old face suddenly turned red. It was as if someone had raised a hand and was slapping his face repeatedly. His old face felt burning hot with pain.

After taking a deep breath, Puji Zhenren said, “In reply to the Grand Empress Dowager, this is a Taoist classic. This humble Taoist admires it immensely.”

“…”

The hall suddenly became quiet. Everyone’s expression turned peculiar.

Empress Zhang looked astonished.

Zhu Xiurong, who had been too ashamed to look at others, also lifted her eyes in surprise.

Zhu Houzhao looked left and right, pondering what the Perfected Master had just said.

Emperor Hongzhi’s gaze darkened. He already felt that something was wrong.

The Grand Empress Dowager had been sitting poised and content. Now her body trembled. She frowned in surprise and said, “Perfected Master, what do you mean by this?”

The Grand Empress Dowager still did not quite understand.

That scripture commentary should be heretical. She had read all the scripture commentaries in the world and had never come across this one. Based on the feedback from the Crown Prince and Liu Jin, she was almost certain it came from Fang Jifan.

A young person who had never practiced Taoism, recklessly annotating the Daodejing—it was simply audacious. But now, hearing Puji Zhenren’s reply, she wondered if there had been some mistake.

But Puji Zhenren Yu Daochun showed a look of reverence. He continued, “Grand Empress Dowager Your Highness, this humble Taoist has carefully studied this scripture commentary. I have read it seven times. The various Taoists in the temple have also observed it one after another. None failed to praise it highly. No… this humble Taoist is truly too presumptuous. The word ‘praise’ makes me ashamed. It should be prostrating in worship, feeling deeply ashamed of my own inadequacy. This scripture inherits the various scriptures since the Song and Yuan dynasties, broad and inclusive as the sea, and also contains its own understanding of the Daodejing. It is truly rare.”

“You mean…” The Grand Empress Dowager could no longer sit still. She stood up shakily. Wang Yan at her side hurriedly supported her.

But the Grand Empress Dowager pushed Wang Yan away. She barely stood steady on her own. Her face was full of astonishment. She said, “This is not fallacious heresy?”

Yu Daochun maintained a solemn expression. After learning that the author of this scripture was just a youth, he really felt indescribable emotions. But as an ascetic, how could he speak falsely?

He said resolutely, “This work inherits the great achievements of Laozi, Zhuangzi, and the Daodejing. It is not something this humble Taoist can fully comprehend. Having obtained this scripture, I still need to study it carefully, and perhaps gain new insights. However, this humble Taoist can confirm that once this scripture spreads, it can rival Zhenjing Xianren’s ‘Daode Zhenjing Cangshi Zuanwei Pian’ and be passed down for a thousand years.”

This time, it was not only the Grand Empress Dowager who reacted with surprise. Even Emperor Hongzhi looked utterly shocked.

Emperor Hongzhi’s dislike of Taoists was historically known. Due to the previous emperor’s influence, Emperor Hongzhi naturally held an aversion toward Taoists. But…

Emperor Hongzhi had also heard of Zhenjing Xianren. This person’s original name was Chen Jingyuan, the most famous Taoist of the Northern Song Dynasty, who called himself Bixuzi. Emperor Shenzong of Song bestowed upon him the title “Zhenjing Master.” Later, there were rumors that he ascended to immortality during the first year of the Shaosheng era of Emperor Zhezong of Song, becoming one of the immortals.

Of course, while some deeply believed in such ascension stories, others regarded them with skepticism. However, his “Daode Zhenjing Cangshi Zuanwei Pian” was indeed one of the true scriptures revered by both Zhengyi Taoism and Quanzhen Taoism today. Regardless of north or south, Taoists all revered Zhenjing Xianren as one of their patriarchs because of this.

But now, they said that Fang Jifan’s Daoist Scripture could rival “Daode Zhenjing Cangshi Zuanwei Pian”?

These words came from Puji Zhenren of Longquan Taoist Temple, making it hard for people not to believe.

Zhu Houzhao could not help but whisper in surprise, “This guy also practices Taoism…”

The Grand Empress Dowager, however, felt somewhat weak. Her face was full of astonishment and mixed emotions. She stared at Puji Zhenren. She had read “Daode Zhenjing Cangshi Zuanwei Pian” countless times and revered the immortal who ascended to heaven immensely.

But no matter what, she could not connect that Northern Song immortal with a youngster like Fang Jifan.

The hall was extremely quiet, with an indescribable eeriness.

“I… I…” The Grand Empress Dowager covered her chest, suddenly feeling she could not bear it. This frightened Wang Yan and Empress Zhang beside her, who quickly stood up to support her.

“Step back, all of you!” The Grand Empress Dowager suddenly spoke with a voice as loud as Hong Zhong. She let out a long breath, her face slightly flushed. Clearly, the pent-up frustration in her heart had finally been released.

She stood and said, “I never imagined that I failed to recognize a pearl…”

After a sigh, the Grand Empress Dowager smiled bitterly. She had read scriptures her whole life but could not understand their original meaning. Yet she had been clamoring to punish someone… This made the Grand Empress Dowager feel deeply ashamed.

“Perfected Master, are you overpraising Fang Jifan!” The Grand Empress Dowager could not help but feel suspicious.

Actually, Puji Zhenren felt even more ashamed than the Grand Empress Dowager. This was a young person… Hmm? The name Fang Jifan sounded somewhat familiar.

Puji Zhenren did not have time to think more. He said, “In reply to Your Highness, this humble Taoist is not qualified to evaluate this person.”

The Grand Empress Dowager was even more surprised. “Not qualified” meant that Puji Zhenren felt he was far inferior to Fang Jifan.

The Grand Empress Dowager had already sat down. She took a deep breath and could not help but murmur, “Fang Jifan… Fang Jifan…”

Previously, because of the matters with the Zhang Family and the Zhou Family, she had remembered this person. And now… this name left an impression that was truly too profound.

She let out a breath and then said, “But how can a youth write such a scripture? It is truly a perplexing mystery.”

This was clearly difficult to explain with common sense.

Puji Zhenren smiled bitterly and said, “Enlightenment knows no age or sequence. In the end, it speaks of the word ‘enlightenment.’ As for this humble Taoist, although diligent and tireless, I have achieved nothing and become a laughingstock. However, perhaps he had some other opportunity. It’s hard to say. We will know once we ask him.”

The Grand Empress Dowager seemed lost in thought. She had to admit that she now had to treat this Fang Jifan with caution.

Who would have thought that such a mischievous fellow could comprehend the true meaning of Taoist scriptures. This truly surprised her greatly. A light seemed to flash in her eyes. After a long time, she said, “Issue an imperial decree. Summon Fang Jifan to enter the palace at noon on the ninth day of the sixth month to celebrate the birthday…”

Here, she paused, seeming to feel it was insufficient. She then added, “Better yet, have him come at chen hour with the Crown Prince to pay respects.”

When Emperor Hongzhi heard this, his heart tightened.

The ninth day of the sixth month was the Grand Empress Dowager’s birthday. Entering the palace to offer birthday congratulations on this day was originally not inappropriate.

But the timing here held great subtlety.

Initially, the Grand Empress Dowager ordered Fang Jifan to come at noon. Noon was the time for the banquet. At this time, some Mingfu would be invited to enter the palace for the banquet. However, the Grand Empress Dowager did not like grand celebrations, so the Mingfu invited were mostly the wives of dukes in the capital and first-rank titled ladies. The number was not large.

But the Grand Empress Dowager quickly changed her mind, shifting the time from noon to chen hour. Chen hour comes after mao hour, roughly after breakfast. She even had him come with the Crown Prince to pay respects. This was treatment beyond the standard protocol.

Because aside from Imperial Clan Members, it was highly improper for anyone to enter the palace at this time.